Apparatus for treating fluid materials



Feb. 24, 1942.

-M. CORNELL APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLUID MATERIALS Filed 001:. 17 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet; l

. INVENTOR.

' MEAD CORNELL BY I ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1942 M. C(YDRNELL 2,273,835

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLUIDMATERIALS Ill/l2 'IIIIIIIIIIII IIA 'IIII IIIIIIIII.

rzllllzllllllllmu VIIIIIIIII MEAD CORNELL ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 24; 1942 APPARATUS Foa MATE 'rnm'rnvc FLUID BIALS FFICE Mead Cornell, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cornell Machine Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application October 17, 1999. Serial No. 299,835

3Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to treating apparatus for the particular treatment of materials and is an improvement of the process and apparatus of my prior Patent No. 2,042,880.

It will be observed that the apparatus of my said prior patent is characterized,,in that the material to be mixed or treated is impounded centrally of a rotating member and then centrifugally attenuated as a continuous film over said member while mechanically supported on one side only, and whereby an intimate and thoroughmixing and treating of the work material is effected.

The present invention is directed to an imponents, or at least certain of them which are to be mixed or otherwise combined in a treating step, are separately attenuated into continuous films and such films then brought together to provement in such apparatus whereby the comthe accomplishment of the desired mixing or treating. It is, therefore, a principal object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus of the character described. Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used. a i

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view partially in elevation of one form of the apparatus embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a 2 and top 3 are preferably curved in the manner illustrated, so that when the process is carried on under a vacuum or elevated pressure, the ends and side wall of the container housing the apparatus wherein the process is performed will be mechanically strengthened against failure.

Supported on the cover plate 3 is a housing member generally indicated at 5, which is provided with anti-friction bearings 6 and l rotatably supporting a vertically disposed hollow shaft 8. The hollow shaft 8 is at its lower end supported in an anti-friction bearing 9 carried by a 'bracket member Ill. The bracket member I0 is supported from the side wall l by means of legs II and i2 and the supply pipe H! which also serves as a supporting leg. V g

The upper end H of the housing 5 carries an electric motor I 5 which drives the shaft 8 through the flexible coupling l8. .Supported in spaced relation on the hollow shaft 8 are oppositely disposed substantially'conform discs I! and is, preferably of different diameters and so arranged that the peripheral edge of the smaller disc lies in a plane which The annexed fragmentary transverse sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing an alternative form of construction of that portion of the apparatus thus illustrated; Figs. 3 and 4 are-similar to Fig. 2, but respectively illustrating difierent modifications ofthe invention as illustrated in Fig. Land Fig.5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 4 showing a further modification in such construction.

' 22 and 23 closing the passage therethrough at Referring now more specifically to theq draw- 'a'cover plate 3, and supporting legs 4. Body .I is preferably cylindrical in form and the bottom intersects the work surface of the larger disc. While in the drawings the larger disc has been illustrated as the upper one and the small disc illustrated as the lower one, nevertheless it is within the contemplation of my invention to reverse the position of these parts.

Mounted on the hollowshaft 8 and capabl of movement axially with respect thereto, and positioned between the discs ll and I8, are spreader members l9 and 20.- These spreader members are annular in form, tapering to a rather sharp edge at their peripheries, and are resiliently forced apart and into engagement with their associated discs by means of a spring 2|. One of the spreader members l9 or 20 may be provided with an anti-friction bearing, such as 22, through which the spring 2| acts so as to permit free relative rotation between the spreader members, if this should be necessary or desirable, since generally the spreader members l9 or 20 are capable of rotation relative to the hollow shaft 8.

The hollow shaft 8 is provided with two plugs the points where these plugs occur.

In the regions respectively generally indicated by the reference characters 24, 25 and 26, the wall of the hollow shaft is provided witha plu rality of openings therethrough for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. I

The housing 5 is enlarged, as indicated, around the area 24 of the shaft 8, and the anti-friction bearings 6 and I are of the type providing a fluid seal. A supply conduit 21 is connected to the housing for the purpose of introducing some of the material to be treated to the apparatus.

Interiorly of the housing I and supported from the cover plate 3 by suitable depending brackets 3a, there is provided an annular deflecting ring "28 adjacent the peripheral edge of the larger apparatus through the conduit 30.

The function of operation of the above described form of apparatus is briefly as follows:

The motor I5 is energized driving the discs I1 and I8 and their associated spreader members I9 and 20. A portion of the material to be treated, or more particularly one component of the desired ultimate mixture, is introduced to the apparatus through the conduit 21 and another portion of the material is introduced to the apparatus through the conduit I3. The material which flows through the conduit 21 passes into the space around the hollow shaft 8 defined by the housing 5. It flows through the openings 24 downwardly through the shaft 8, and is discharged through the openings 25 into the space between the spreader member I9 and its associated disc I'l. Pressure of the material in this last defined space causes the spreader member I9 to move away from its associated disc 11, and since the latter is rotating at a relatively highspeed, the material thus liberated will pass duit I3 passes upwardly through the lower end of thehollow shaft 8 and is discharged through the openings '26 into thev space between thespreader member 20 and its associated disc I8, from whence it flows outwardly over the upper surface of the disc I8 in a highly attenuated continuous film mechanically supported on one side only. I

It is important to note that in carrying out the operation of the apparatus in the preferred manner in practicing the process of my invention, the outer periphery of thedisc I8 is spaced sumciently from the lower surface of the disc I1, so as to, in no way, interfere either with the passage of the thin film outwardly over the disc I| or the discharge of the thin film from the periphery of the disc I8. The film which flows outwardly across the under face of the disc I! from the central portion thereof therefore passes undisturbed past the peripheral edge of the disc I8. The continuous film which is discharged from the peripheral edgeof the disc I8, however, flows on to the under face of the disc I'I, due to the overlapping arrangement of the discs, and is there instantly and completely intermingled with the original film generated on the disc I1. While not illustrated in the drawing, it is within the v contemplation of my invention to alter the slope of the active face of the larger disc at the point where the continuous film from the smaller disc the increased thickness in film, if this should be necessary in treating particular types of materials. 'I'h'us, the disc I! in the annular area between its peripheral edge and the area where the film from the smaller disc I8 is delivered thereto, may be curved outwardly at a different and preferably a greater angle than the central portion of the disc l'l. If the mixing of the two attenuated films is to be increased, or ifthe film from the smaller disc is of such a nature that it will not be picked up readily by the larger disc, then the outer peripheral area of the larger disc just defined may be disposed at an angle more acute to the axis of its rotation.

The mixed and/or treated material is discharged from the peripheral edge of the disc H in the form of a continuous film onto the deflecting ring 28 which deflects such continuous'film,

side wall I so that the film may fiow downwardly into the collecting chamber at the bottom of the apparatus.

In making a mixture of two components, or in treating one material with another, such two components will be respectively admitted to the apparatus through the conduits I3 and 21, to be later brought together in the form of highlyattenuated continuous films in the manner above described. When a mixture of more than two components is to be made, or if, for example, a mixture is to be treated by means of an additional component, such groups of components may be respectively admitted to the apparatus through the conduits I3 and 21. If the treating process carried out by the apparatus involves a reaction, then generally the respective phases contributing to such reaction will be admitted through the separate conduits I3 and 21, respectively, and not brought together until they have been attenuated, as described.

The above described apparatus is particularly suitable for use in carrying out a process of treating materials where it is essential that there be a complete dispersion of one component in the other immediately the components are brought together, so as to preclude against over-treating certain portions of one or the other component which might result if there was even slight delay in effecting complete dispersion.

While only one pair of discs, i. e., a large disc and a smaller disc, has been illustrated, it is nevertheless within the contemplation of my invention to employ more than two such discs in carrying out my process if'it should be desirable to attenuate more than two components before bringing them together. This may be readily accomplished by employing either an additional smaller disc, the peripheral edge of which will discharge onto the active surface of the larger disc, or by the use of a disc larger than II, for

axial movement relative thereto and urged upwardly by means of a spring 3|, the lower end of face of the disc I l is eflective to displace the disc a downwardly to permit the escape of such film outwardly over the attenuating surface of the disc ll. It will be observed, therefore, that the action of disc Ila in its peripheral edgeis the same as the action of the spreader or baille members l9 and 20 in providing an annular orifice for the projection of acontinuous film over the radially outer portion of the attenuating surface on the larger disc.

In Fig. 3 the discs I! and II are arranged and constructed as illustrated in Fig. i. In addition, the shaft has slidably mounted thereon a spider 33 which carries an annular ring 34. The spider 33 is forced upwardly by means of a yieldable spring 35, and such spring is strong enough to normally maintain the spreader 34 in engage- "be less than 45. If a greater angle is employed,

" the film has a tendency to curl up behind the edge of the spreader ring or baflle, and result in the projection of droplets tending to disrupt the continuous character of the film.

From an inspection of the structures illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, it will be observed that by the provision of expedients'there disclosed and particularly described, I have provided an annument with the lower face of the upper disc ll,

but will permit such ring to be displaced for the escape of a continuous film between the ring and disc ll under the centrifugal force generated during the operation of the apparatus.

In Fig. 4 the upper disc lie is smaller in diameter than the lower disc i8; Loosely mounted on the periphery of the disc He is a ring 36 which by gravity normally rests on the upper or operative face of the lower disc It. An annular flange 31 around the peripheral edge of the disc .llc maintains-the ring 36 in assembled relation in the apparatus. If desired a flat leaf spring of conventional construction might be inserted between a flange 31 and the ring if if the nature of the material being treated or the conditions of operation of the apparatus requires that the ring 31 bear. against the disc it with greater force.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, the

lower spreader or baille member 200 is permitted to rest by gravity on the lower disc ll so that its operation is much like the operation of the gravity actuated spreader ring 36. When such construction is employed, a collar 30 secured to' the shaft 8 serves'as an abutment for the spring Ilc by which the upper bame I90 is maintained against the lower face of the upper disc.

' In Fig. 5- has been illustrated a structure'simi lar to Fig; 4, but in which an annular leaf spring as is interposed between the flange 31d and the ring ltd. This annular leaf spring 39 is of sinuous form so that the distance between the planes defined by different components of the spring-is less, however, than the normal distance between the ring 38d and the flange 31d. Thus ..the ring 36d is permitted to rise by gravity as the merged film passes thereunder until a pre-determined thickness of film is produced determined by engagement between the. spring 89 and the flange 31d. Any increase in thickness of the film which passes under the flange 3811 can be accomplished only by a deformation of the spring 3!. This apparatus will have obvious utility in the treatment of certain types of materials and under certain conditions of operation of the machine. In the structures of each of Figs. 4 and 5, the lower face 40 of the disc lid and the lower face ll of the ring 36d are so formed that when the ring 36d rests on the lower disc It, a substantially continuous surface, is presented for the I solid a-nda liquid, or a liquid and a plurality of lar orifice at the annular area, where the sepahim on the larger disc has a tendency to cause the material to ricochet and leave the operative face of the larger disc. By employing any of the expedients as illustrated in Figs. 2 .to 4, the

material being treated is maintained at all time as a coherent mass, i. e. it is at no time broken up or atomized, thisbeing a characteristic of the priorart machines which my improved apparatus is particularly designed to avoid.

The apparatus comprising my inventionis adapted to a wide variety of uses, among which may be named the following:

The blending ,or mixing of oil stock suchas petroleum oils; the mixing of liquids and slurries' such as, for'example, treating a fatty oil with a slurry of treating clay; the alkali treatments of fatty oils for the purpose of neutralizing the free fatty acids contained therein; the acid treatment of resins, etc.

The apparatus herein described is particularly suited for the purpose of carrying out my-process for promoting reactions, which reactions may, as

hereinafter indicated, be either chemical, physical orphysico-chemical.

Where the reactants are contained in separate phases, for example, two immiscible liquids, ora solids, reaction can only take place at the contact surfaces between such phases.

My use of the term phase is based on the understanding of that. term as generally accepted in the application of Gibbs Phase Rule.

I have found that th thickness of the film into which the phases containing the reactants -is attenuated as referred toin the foregoing enumeration of specific examples plays an important role in carrying out my invention. In carrying out the process comprising my invention, this attenuated film will preferably be reduced to a thickness of not'substantially in excess of .0007

inch, and such fllmcaused to flow relatively to the surface mechanicallysupporting the same on one side only, by speed not substantially less than 25 feet per second. The speed figure given above is the speed of relative movement between the film and the supporting means at the time the film is attenuated to substantially its smallest thickness and at the time of greatest relative movement between the film and supporting surface.

It will be observed that this attenuated film, during which the reaction is primarily promoted, is mechanically supported on one side only so that the phases of the reaction are brought into intimate relation with each other by virtue of the fact that the attenuated film passes over the solid surface at a relatively high speed and the frictional resistance between thefilm and the supporting surface is largely responsible for the action which takes place. The impact of the finely attenuated film on the'ccllecting ring or wall of the vessel also plays a large part in producing the desired results.

When all of the materials forming the reaction mass are in a liquid or fluid state, the thickness to which the film is attenuated is sometimes determined by the viscosity of the liquid film, the temperature at which the reaction is promoted, as well as the nature of the reaction itself. Generally, with liquids which have a viscosity between 50 seconds and 1,000 seconds Saybolt Universal at 100 degrees F. and when the nature of the reaction is such as to not in itself cause any should be at least as thick as the solid particles themselves and generally, superior results will be secured if the thickness of the film does not ex-.

ceed three times the diameter of such solid particles.

The herein described apparatus is particularly suited in carrying out processes in which the phases of the reaction to be promoted should be completely intermixed or contacted within the shortest possible time, in order that there may not be an over-treatment of portions of one phase by the other before the latter becomes completely dispersed in the film. By the use of the herein described apparatus, the two phases may be separately attenuated on the separate disks and then brought together as thinly attenuated continuous,films which, by immediate further attenuation of the merged film, result in a uniform and immediate completion of the desired reaction.

Most of the uses above described are desirably carried out in apparatus, such as is disclosed herein; however, when the reaction phases are such that they may be safely intermingled prior to attenuation of the mass into a continuous film for the purpose of promoting and completing the reaction, then apparatus such as is disclosed in my issued Patent No. 2,042,880 may be employed.

By so finely attenuating the reaction phases or components of th mixture in the fashion above described, it is possible to develop latent properties of the composition so as to improve its usefulness for the purposes for which it is designed. Thus, for example, the effectiveness of a particularrcomponent usually'employed in small percentages in a finished composition may be considerably improved so that'smaller amounts of such components may be employed to attain the same degree of effectiveness.

By the employment of my process, materials may be blended into a stable form of composition which is not possible by known methods of the prior art. For example, in the blendingof an addition agent with an oil, which addition agent is not completely soluble or miscible in the oil, a composition produced by ordinary mixing methods under elevated temperatures will result in the production of a composition from which the addition agent separates on standing. When such composition is blended in accordance with the process of my invention, 1. e., by passing it at a very high speed and .in the form of an extremely thin film over means mechanically supporting the-same on one side only, a composition is produced which will not separate on standing. As an explanation of this phenomena, it is believed that when the addition agent is caused to fiow in finely attenuated form over one side only of the supporting disk, the addition agent is dispersed in the body material in extremely finely divided form. These very small particles of addition agent, in passing over one side of the disk, gather electro-static charges which are all of like polarity so that these particles, when the composition is finally collected in a body will, due to their similar polarity, repel each other so that by virtue of their electro-static charges and mutual repelling effect on each other, are held in a stable form of dispersion. This theory has been verified by the formation of a dispersion of the character described and then immersing in such dispersion an electro-statically charged rod which, after removal from the immersion will be found to havecollected on its surface a layer of the material which was dispersed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Serial Numbers 194,015, filed March 4, 1938 and 203,976, filed April 23, 1938.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or their equivalent be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, an assembly comprising a pair of relatively smaller and larger rotatable members respectively provided with facing oppositely inclined annular film-supporting and attenuating surfaces, means arranged centrally of each of said members providing an annular orifice for the projection of the material to be treated in continuous films respectively onto said attenuating surfaces, said members so arranged that a film centrifugally projected from said-smaller member flows, as a continuous film, into the film on the attenuating surface of said larger member in an annular area between the radially inner and outer boundaries of such larger member, an annular baflle member adjacent the periphery of said smaller member and cooperating with the adjacent attenuating surface of the larger member to provide an annular orifice for the projection of said merged films in a continuous film over the radially outward portion of the attenuating surface on said larger member.

2. In a device of the character described, an assembly comprising a pair of relatively smaller and larger rotatable members respectively provided with facing oppositely inclined annular film-supporting and attenuating surfaces, said members so arranged that a film centrifugally projected from said smaller member flows. as a continuous film, into the film on the attenuating" surface of said larger member in an annular area between the radially'inner and outer boundaries of such larger member, an annular bame member adjacent the periphery of said smaller member and cooperating with the adjacent attenuating surface of said larger member to provide an annular orifice for the p'rojection of said merged films in a continuous film over the radially outward portiono! the attenuatingsurface on said larger member.

-3. In a. device of the character described, assembly comprising a pair of relatively smaller and large rotatable members respectively provided with facing oppositely inclined annular film-supporting and attenuating surfaces, said members so arranged that a film centrifugally projected from said smaller member flows, as a continuous film, into the film on the attenuatin surface of said larger member in an annular 

